Prison /(?; 277)/

Pris·on

Prison

n.
  1. A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o confinement, restraint, or safe custody.
    Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.
    — Ps. cxlii. 7.
    The tyrant Aeolus, . . . With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds, And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds.
  2. Specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful authority.

Phrases & Compounds

Prison bars
See Base, n., 24.
Prison breach
See Note under 3d Escape, n., 4.
Prison house
a prison.
Prison ship
a ship fitted up for the confinement of prisoners.
Prison van
a carriage in which prisoners are conveyed to and from prison.

Prison

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Prisoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Prisoning

  1. To imprison; to shut up in, or as in, a prison; to confine; to restrain from liberty.
    The prisoned eagle dies for rage.
    His true respect will prison false desire.
  2. To bind (together); to enchain. [Obs.]
    Sir William Crispyn with the duke was led Together prisoned.